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State title is on the line

By Matt Stewart, Correspondent

Updated:
03/18/2017 10:17:48 AM EDT

Nashoba Regional players and coaches celebrate at the DCU Center in Worcester on Monday after defeating Longmeadow in the Division 2 boys basketball state semifinals. Nashoba will face Brighton in Saturday s 1:15 p.m. state championship game at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JIM MARABELLO

BOLTON -- Nobody ever doubted that Nashoba Regional had the talent to make it this far, but a couple of tough late-season losses had some unsure of what the Chieftains' fate would be in the boys' basketball tournament.

Nashoba ignited to start the postseason, defeating a pesky perennial power that ended its season multiple times in the past and winning a district title, and the Chieftains now have a date in the state championship.

Although it seems Nashoba could be content with all it accomplished this postseason, the bottom line in Bolton is that there is one more game to make it a completely fulfilling season.

Nashoba travels to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, the birthplace of basketball, to take on a potent Brighton High team Saturday at 1:15 p.m. in the Division 2 title game.

Brighton enters with a 22-5 record after blowing out South champion Whitman-Hanson, 94-48, in the state semifinals. Nashoba (21-3) knocked off Western Mass. champion Longmeadow, 68-58, to get to this point.

"We're taking the approach that it is nice getting here," Nashoba head coach Danny Ortiz said. "It's a great opportunity, but we're not going there just to say we made it to the state final, we're going there to win.

"These boys are excited for the challenge and the opportunity, but they want to win, and that's why this group is special, because they aren't afraid to compete against anybody. No matter what the opponent's reputation is, they're always going to put their best foot forward to compete as a unit.

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Nashoba is arguably the best team across all divisions in Central Mass., and the Chieftains got that way by playing the best teams they could. In addition to playing and beating teams like St. John's in the non-league slate, the Chieftains also benefited from playing in an ultra-competitive Mid-Wach B league.

"I think our success starts with our tough schedule," Ortiz said. "It started last year when we lost that semifinal game to Concord-Carlisle and the boys just wanted to go to work right away. They put in the time and work, and our schedule prepared us for tournament success."

The Chieftains had a successful regular season and entered the Clark Tournament as the defending champions and heavy favorites to repeat. Instead, league foe Westboro knocked Nashoba out early, perhaps casting some doubt about the team's readiness for the Central Mass. tournament.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the Chieftains rallied around one another after the loss, and have since rattled off four straight postseason victories, including a district semifinal win over a Concord-Carlisle team that hand handed Nashoba season-ending playoff losses in each of the past two tournaments.

"That Westboro game was a huge wake-up call," Ortiz said. "Not to take anything away from Westboro, but we were a step slower and a step behind. After the game we spent the whole practice watching that film, and broke down things we thought we could be much better at. Ever since that game we have just been in a different gear."

Ortiz is quick to credit assistant coach Josue Pantojas, whom Ortiz said is instrumental to the team's success and who told the team after the Westboro loss that the Rangers awoke a sleeping giant.

A big factor toward taking down potent Brighton might be the play of sophomore center Connor Ojerholm. Ojerholm who stands at 6-foot-6, will have a pair of opponents his size to battle against on Saturday. He has show dramatic improvement over the past season and figures to play an instrumental role.

"Ojerholm has shown maturity, has gotten stronger, and understands the game better," Ortiz said. "He's been outstanding all year. He rebounds the basketball, can score down low, and not only that I'm incredibly impressed with his ability to pass from the post. If they double him, he makes them pay."

Nashoba will rely on offense from junior and leading scorer Justin Peirce, as well as seniors Connor Jesson, Andrew Fish, Nate Mansour and Trevor Manyak. The senior class -- which includes contributors Shane Regonini and Johnathan Campana -- has helped lead the way during the remarkable run.

"We can get scoring and big contributions from multiple players," Ortiz said. "Our seniors have been important with Jesson and Fish with the scoring, but Mansour and Manyak have been outstanding on the defensive end."

Brighton is a team that likes to beat opponents with its size and pressure. Point guard Jordan Galloway and guard Tyrone Perry are the leading scorers, but Brighton has no lack of athletes who can cause problems.

"Brighton is very athletic," Ortiz said. "They can play above the rim and put full-court pressure on you. Everybody on their team can score. Galloway and Perry are their main guys, but on any given night anyone can score. They're big, fast, athletic, and they come at your every minute."

Limiting turnovers and gathering defensive rebounds could be two huge factors if Nashoba is able to pull off the title victory.

"We've got to protect the basketball and make stops," Ortiz said. "We have to rebound the basketball because they are so big and athletic. Brighton can flat-out play basketball, but at the same time I think we're a pretty good team ourselves, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Although Springfield is more than an hour from Bolton, the Nashoba students and community members have made every other tournament game this season feel like a home contest, and the expectation is Saturday will be no different.

"I'm looking forward to having our fans there," Ortiz said. "They've been great and motivating these guys, and it truly helps when you have the fans like that showing support. It's special, the players can feel the energy and feed off of the energy."

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